Final answer:
Energy is the capacity to do work or cause change. It is transferred when force is applied over a distance, and can also be transferred as heat.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ability to do work or cause change is defined as energy. Energy is the capacity to supply heat or do mechanical work on objects. For example, when we lift an object against gravity, we are doing mechanical work
Work itself, denoted as w, is the transfer of energy when a force (F) causes an object to move (displacement). The basic formula is W = F × Δx, where Δx is the distance moved. Therefore, when we exert force and cause displacement we are doing work, and this process requires energy.
Energy can also be transferred in the form of heat. When energy is used to warm up your house, for example, it is transferred from the furnace to the air inside the house, increasing the temperature. Whether energy is transferred as heat or work, its core property is that it enables the capacity to do work or produce heat.